Lorraine Garabedian

Eight Decades of Grace, Kindness, and Faithful Fortitude

It is with hearts filled with boundless joy, gratitude, and sorrow that we announce the heavenly homecoming of our Mema, Lorraine Garabedian, whose life on Earth ended as her Spirit arrived fashionably late in Eternity. Mema, knowingly, and with unmovable faith, went home to Jesus in the early hours of the morning on the 12th of March 2026, at the age of 84, joining her late daughter, Jeannine Stewart. She was surrounded in love, by her family who sang to her, read the Bible to her, and prayed quietly over her as she rested peacefully.

Alby and Helen Givens were blessed with Lorraine (Lori) on 10/03/1941 in Chicago, Illinois, where she met her late siblings Violet Babuick, John Givens, and Bob Givens for the first time. Lori also had another brother, Frankie Givens, who had passed away before Lori was born. Lori grew up in Chicago where she met Ignatius Robert Garabedian, the love of her life and to whom she was hopelessly devoted. They married in Chicago on the 14th of September 1965 and relocated to California in 1968 where they raised their six children together.

Lori is survived by her husband of sixty years, Bob Garabedian, and her five children: John Juliano, Janel Nielsen, Lynda Garabedian, David Garabedian and Davina Patrick. She also has fourteen grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren. She was welcomed into Heaven by her daughter Jeanine Stewart and her granddaughter Jennifer Stewart, along with her parents and siblings.

In life, our Mema taught us lessons that will reside with us all for generations to come. Before she went to Heaven she had one last example left to teach us. In her last hours our Mema showed us how, when your faith is as powerful as hers, death will be a peaceful release into Eternity and not a fear filled end.

“Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18